, 1887-06-09

The writer, Il councilman OF this
city, and Is such representing many
Of It's citiZans and voters. in justice to
theQ and TO himself, considers this
statement necessary.
Mr.. Lande5 having made offers to
the mayor 'o transfer for city pur
pose las lot en- water street. upon
which the NOntaua saloon now stands,
for tbr sum Of $3.50. the matter was
brought TO the notice of members OF
the council, aud 1t was agreed that
"n ADVERTISEMENT he inserted IN the
public papers calling for proposals to
sci! or lease Il suitable lot to the city.
At the last regular meeting OF the
council, huil on the 81 inst, pro
pOzai was received from Mr.. Laudes
to sell the lot referred TO for IS 0G0
and onP from the undersigned offer
ing 10 sell or lease either OF five suit
able pieces OF lots OF land with free
water upon each of them at pur
chase price Of from $500 to S5,OO1,
oao being the northwest corner of
Washington ana Quincy streets. and
another, an eligible half lot on Water
street, upon which q twO-story brick
building would he erected from plans
t0 be furnished by the city, at the
expense Of the owner, and included
in the price. On motion Of the
writer committee was appointed to
confer with Tho county commissioners
at their meeting Oh the 7th inst, t.
ascertain on what terms the corner
lot now being used as jail yard
would be sold or surrendered for city
uses, the committee to report at an
adjourned meeting Of the council.
cansing a probable delay of four days
only before final action upon the pro
pOsals then before the council
In view Of the above the writer was
certainly surprised to he summoned
l. attend a special meeting called hy
the mayor On the next day, Saturday,
subsequent 10 the regular meeting of
the council, for the purpose Of con
sidering the immediate purchase of d
lot Ior city purposes, Tins ignoring
the ac,iCn Oi that body ut lis TcguiaT
meeting, L matter OF record.
The meeting having been called e.
order it was found that the written
proposal tlE3crod by the undersigned
and filed with The clerk mad been
spirited away and could net lie found
or produced, thus leaving but the
single proposal g Hir. Laudes before
the council. No attention whatever
WAS paid to the remonstranCe Of the
writer Is to this singular state Of Hf
fairs. Councilman Weymouth at
once proposed that the offer of AIr.
Landcs be accepted, which was im-
mediately seconded by Councilman
Morgan, and the matter thus sum
marily disposed of. No examination
OF the various properties offered was
made by the committee. with the
single exception Of that belonging 10
MIR. Laudes, and 10 report IN refer
euce thereto was brought before the
council.
Comment ON the above Is unncccs-
sary- Nor is it the intention Of the
writer to reflect upon the personal
character OF his fellow couacilmcn,
bat Idis peculiar mode OF doing busi
ness, altogether unfortunately too
common in the larger cities. shonI&
be frowned down here, or the resi-
dents cf this place o. perhaps 20O0
mLHbitants viii soon find themselves
saddled with an unnecessary debt.
which will be found extremely diff
cult 10 remove.
\ proper consideration and com
MOI courtesy, at least, should be cx-
tented 10y one councilman to another
IN all public matters. They are.
as Is the mayor, merely servants
Of the public whose Interests
and not those Of private individuals
they are elected to serve. And al
though the legal right Of the council
to purchase real estate in this manner
may be questioned, the writer. knows
irS the need, and not being pagticu-
larry anxious 10 push his own proD-
erty, would very likely have voted for
the purchase under some conaitions}.
Lad the matter been fairly brought
before the council after an effort to
obtain the county lot had been made
and faIied-aEd that. too. without
favor or reward.
taNycIs ". JAMS.
I3,,,f r., ,,-y,.I l.. ~ 4r,-